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Getting the measure of animal suffering

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Published Date: 02 October 2008
SCIENTISTS may for the first time be legally required to describe the level of suffering endured by animals in their labs.
Currently, institutions have to say in advance whether planned procedures are likely to inflict "mild, moderate or substantial" suffering on animals, but the degree of suffering actually experienced is not reported. The new system would make it necessary to grade animal suffering as "mild, moderate or substantial" after an experiment is over.

Out of a group of ten mice, for example, seven may have experienced "mild" suffering, two "moderate" and one "substantial". Under the new proposals, drawn up by experts on the Animal Procedures Committee, this information would have to be reported to the Home Office and to provide national figures on the actual experience of animals in UK laboratories.





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  • Last Updated: 01 October 2008 10:24 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Kipling,

02/10/2008 10:24:25
Snails squeak if hurt. All who tread heavily along pavements when these gentle souls come out for a rain walk should realise the pain they inflict (seriously) if their feet mush them or break their shells.

Well done the Animal Procedures Committee. And about time. But will it go far enough to register the discomfort of an animal ? Surely all this gene transformation or surgery must have an impact on the general welfare of the animal tampered with. The labs, if they're going to exist, should be made to reverse the effects of experiments so the animals are back to normal. What happens to the animals that are tested on ? Are they like broken-spirited greyhounds or horses used for dog/horse soups or just chucked into the incinerators alive or dead ?
2

Kipling,

12/10/2008 16:14:12
Please note all my notes on snails have been stolen either by or with the complicity of my neighbours. Anyone receiving such (bad, good, appalling notes, but irreplaceable nevertheless) please notify. The neighbours (Michaela and 'Michael') are presently involved in what looks to be property fraud and are therefore generally not to be trusted.

 

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